So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore: An Unexpected Journey

by Wayne Jacobsen

how to use a fork, but that’s because they learned it in life. As they got old enough you probably put the fork in their hands but held on so they wouldn’t poke their eyes out. You helped them guide it to their mouths, and when you grew confident they wouldn’t hurt themselves, you let them do it on their own. Embracing the life of Jesus is a lot more like learning to use that fork than it is sitting in meetings. Children will learn the truth as you help them learn to live it.” I was surprised when Roary spoke up, since he was one of the quietest men in our group. “I love what you’re saying about the kids. I’ve never thought of them that way. But you’re talking about something bigger than that, aren’t you?” “You’re right, Roary. What I’m saying will also affect how you deal with one another. If you really want to learn how to share Jesus’ life together, it would be easier to think of that less as a meeting you attend and more as a family you love.” “I like that. We’d focus more on our relationships than our activities,” Ben offered. “Exactly,” John answered. “And be more focused on your relationship to God as well. He is the first relationship. Anything valuable you experience in your life together will come from your life in him.” “I think that’s why we really want to get this church thing right,” Ben continued. “We’ve all wasted so many years in institutional church and have not found the life of God we wanted.” “Have you found it here?” queried John.